While there are some blockbuster titles arriving in stores this week, we suspect we're not alone in looking forward to one thing above all else — Mario Kart 8 DLC. The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 includes eight tracks, three characters and four vehicles, and we think it's an absolute treat.

The good news is that it's available now, ahead of the usual Nintendo Download update time. At the time of writing there are two Mario Kart 8 downloads active in Europe, and we suspect that'll also be the case in North America.

Update to Version 3.0

If you have standby updates and downloads enabled this may have automatically downloaded to your system already, and will be installed — or finish downloading — when you load the game. This update adds amiibo support, with the Start (+) button now loading an amiibo menu on the home screen of the game. It's here that you can scan compatible figures to unlock Mii Racing Suits.

The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8 DLC

Once you boot up the game it notifies you that your DLC content is ready to download. You can either wait for it to download the 687MB file (that's the UK size), carry on playing or leave the game. If you do tell it to download in the background you'll need to reboot the software when it's complete in order to access the content.

When playing online, meanwhile, you can choose a setting to only join lobbies with other DLC owners, ensuring the new tracks will cycle around; in general the game is quite generous at offering a new track in the majority of rounds.

The download ran a little slower than normal on our UK unit, possibly because plenty of gamers are trying to access it at the same time. Good things come to those that wait...

Are you excited about this DLC and update, or are you lucky enough to be playing the new tracks right now? Let us know.

I'm gonna download ASAP, but I'm keeping from playing it until the evening after my midterm, to have something to look forward to and to feel better in case everything goes down. What a time to be a Wii U owner!

Played through it earlier today and I have to say that the Hyrule Track is the one I like...the least. Dunno why, but it feels kind of meh compared to most of the others (Wario's Mine is - as expected - still pretty boring)

Mute City is my favorite, Ice Ice Outpost(?) a close second. And I have to admit that I really like Tanooki Mario. Peach and Link are already annoying as hell.

@bouncer0304 I'm in Germany and it downloaded the update to 3.0 when I started the game (from the home screen, I think you actually have to do that instead of a quick start, but I never tried that myself) and asked for the DLC once I was in the main menu of MK8. It actually downloaded the DLC from within the game instead of returning to the download menu.

@Finntendo Sometimes he makes triforce, so it's good. It always was "don't run with the swords/scissors", but they are DRIVING! So it must be safe

Random shortcut on Hyrule track sucks, but overall it's still pretty good and fun to play.

Least favorite:Dragon Driftway (it's mediocre and the music is boooriiiing)Wario Gold Mine (it sucks, probably one of the worst tracks in the whole game)Rainbow Road (it's okay, but the "shortcut" near finish line blows)

Ice Ice Outpost is meh, but it's not as bad as others.But Excitebike, Yoshi Circuit and Mute City are AWESOME! Still it is worth it's price.

I never knew Link could have so much fun riding around in a little buggy kart. (I''m gonna change my profile picture to reflect said fun)

I tried racing with Link this morning. I have class in about an hour or so, so I'll wait to try the new tracks until I get out. Not only so I can have something fun to look forward to when I get out, but also because I know once I get started I'm not gonna wanna stop playing.

What the heck, Wario's gold mine got gimped. Some turns were quite tricky to get round if they weren't navigated right on Mario Kart Wii, which gave it a slight sense of danger. This version has been made easier because the track has been made slightly wider, and I'm sure there's a big dip missing just before the jump section in the second half of the race.I was kind of expecting the Excite Bike track to be much better, but no.Also, the trophies for both new GP's look identical except for the GP logo.

@Dave24 I always enjoyed Wario Mine, but I think this is less madcap fun (or maybe I am getting better) and I liked the simplicity of Rainbow Road. Mute City was my clear favourite, I thought Excite Bike needed more in it as well as Ice Ice, maybe a remake of GCs Baby Circuit (a similar shape to Excite Bike but was more fun drifting) and a Tropical Freeze level would have been more fun for me, but probably less fun for many others

Loving this DLC! There really isn't a bad course in the pack, though, I'd say the weakest is Dragon Driftway, but mainly because the viewing angle makes it hard to see what's coming ahead sometimes. I am enjoying Ice Ice Outpost's awesome shortcuts.

Maybe it's my imagination but the VR win/loss ratio seems to have been adjusted a bit again, for the better. Just noticed that coming in 1st gets you more points and last doesn't penalize you as severely. Maybe I'll actually start gaining VR again instead of hovering around the same level as has been my fate since the previous update. Here's to hoping!

Can't wait! We prepaid for the DLC earlier in the week and have been playing as colorful Yoshi and Shy Guys ever since. Can't wait for work, practices, and meetings to be over today.

The article says that while playing online, you have the option of choosing a DLC lobby to ensure that the new tracks appear. I believe someone else adamantly commented that this would not be the case and that even the people who choose not to down load the new content would see the tracks online......now who was that?????

As for Mute City. The music just brings so much memories and it being the last track, the music change when results are up, made me laugh. Kind of nice tribute to F-Zero (at least in SNES version, I don't remember if others had it). And Mute City music as still kind of MK feel to it

But it may be that Jet Bike will be changed to Blue Falcon..... (not sure about driving with Link tho)

Been playing it and love the tracks; there's EASILY enough value here to justify the $7.99 purchase, and getting the two for $11.99 just makes that much more sense. But now that Nintendo has officially entered the era of DLC and updates for the main console titles, I have a few suggestions on tweaking Mario Kart 8's (and the series in general) gameplay. The customization options in the multiplayer mode are a great start, but the single player could use at least some of these:

1) Lose the Lightning. It serves no point except to make everyone smaller, cost them their items, and basically irritate them. Does it really benefit the user? Not that much.

2) The Super 8 is vastly overrated. I've come to realize that having those eight items swirling around your kart isn't nearly as beneficial as you'd think while in the middle of a chaotic race. To even get it you have to be back in the pack, and if that's the case you're more than likely going to lose half the items to attacking items from other karts before you get to use them; there simply has never been a time I've gotten the Super 8 where I was able to hold onto items for when I felt they'd be of real use, and all too often you see players mash buttons as fast as they can in vain hopes of some actual change in their position. And as for waiting for the item you wish to use to pass in front of your kart while all the twisting, turning, and dodging is happening onscreen, I've found that the Super 8 has actually caused me to run into walls or off the track and LOSE position. Seriously, if you have the skills to use this item effectively you'll probably never get to in the first place.

3) Reward instead of punish the front-runners. I understand that the rubber band AI and giving those further back better items sounds good in theory, but it can be one of Mario Kart's most frustrating aspects when you've basically run a perfect race and dominated only to be suddenly Red/Blue Shelled and drop three places sometimes literally within sight of the finish line. Currently first-place racers can count on getting Coins, a rare Mushroom or Green Shell, and an even rarer Horn. Upping the ratios of better items would greatly help.

4) In fact, why not change the ratios to give racers the most useful items the most often across the board? Red Shells and Stars at the top of the Most Desirable list, and the Lightning, Squid, and Super 8 entrenched at the bottom.

I know this post is already long so I'll stop here. Anyone else have any thoughts to add? Do you think the game mechanics are fine as is or what would you do to tweak them?

NOTE: I think Nintendo should hire partners or just open a new studio dedicated to making DLC for Wii U exclusives. It would be good for fans (to have new stages,characters,etc.) and for them (I think people would buy) or you could make them pay like 9.99 a month or something for unlimited DLC.

Something minor that I noticed while playing online, when you join a new session, the back button has been dissabled at the character select screen. You can only back out at the lobby, or in the middle of a race.
Also, there's no new stamps, can't complain too much really though, but it was something that I thought would be added.
Plus, I'm suprised that selecting 32 or 40 race isn't in the custom race option, it seems to be tacked on.

@rferrari24 That's why I little hate online in this game - instead of "choose whatever the hell track you want from the list" it's limited to 3 chosen by the game and random... I played 6 matches in the row with no option to choose DLC tracks. On 7th round finally it appeared, only one... Wario Gold Mine.

The Hyrule and F-Zero tracks are truly amazing! The rest ain't bad either but those two really stand out. And i did not expect any of the DLC tracks to be playable online so that's a big plus. BTW: I noticed the update brought back a lot of high ranked players who had probably drifted off to Smash Bros 3DS

Quality tracks. This DLC is well worth the money. Visuals are amazing, each track is unique. I think my favorite might be Yoshi's circuit but the Dragon was a complete surprise. The tracks don't feel rushed at all and the presentation is top notch. I really can't wait for the Animal Crossing track though

This is terrible. My Gamepad was acting wonky and I figured it was time so on Tuesday I traded for a new system. Then I went through the process to transfer network ID which Nintendo got done yesterday. Now though there is an error they are working on to allow me to get to eshop. It's torture being so excited for the DLC, but not knowing if they'll have it fixed in time to play tonight.

Damn I hate Yoshi's circuit. My drifting skills needs improvement! Also I love Cat Peach's stunts. Tanooki Mario looks to be my new main since he has better acceleration (and speed?) than Mario.. Link is just like DK, Rosalina & WaLuigi in terms of weight class.

What a great value add-on! All the tracks and cars look just as good as the original software, so credit to Nintendo for not skimping.

My only complaint is that Arctic Outpost is, if you'll excuse the pun, hard to warm to from an I.P sense. The circuit is brilliant (especially the way the tracks cross each other regularly), but it could have done with just a bit more of a likeness to Nintendo's back catalogue.

Top 3 courses:

3. Hyrule Circuit. Amazing visuals and great interactive features.

2. Excitebike Arena. An absolute blast online or with the family! Very frantic.

1. SNES Rainbow Road. Feels like an Eighties game show, which is probably where I belong! Beautiful circuit and amazing soundtrack.

Thats a shame I got home from work hoping the DLC would have automatically downloaded but I have to download it manually. Am I missing something or is it just UPDATE data that downloads automatically. If so maybe something nintendo will fix in the future.

@Dave24Lol. When I'm online, I always choose the new courses over the retro ones. But, cmon, if a new DLC course shows up, why wouldn't you pick it? Especially on release day. I was surprised not to see a complete barrage of Link characters too.

Some real gems amongst the new tracks, Hyrule Castle, Excitebike Track, SNES Rainbow Road and I LOVE Mute City. For the first time I've changed my first choice kart from the pipe frame to the B Dasher, absolute beast!

@Gameday I watched your video and I'd like to point out that if you go on that pink area on both sides of the track when they appear on F-Zero, they refill your coin count. Only way of collecting coins on the F-Zero stage.

MK8 is the best fun I've had in gaming since Zelda OOT and Mario64, (I know, its been a while) but I've got to wait until I get home early tomorrow afternoon to download and play Mute City because of some job interview............

Is anyone else noticing getting better items while in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place? Got a red shell when in first, a piranha plant in 2nd, and three red shells in 3rd. That's NEVER happened to me before. Is it the DLC, the update to 3.0, or am I crazy?